Aviation marker



' March 1, 1932. A. M. WILHELM 1,847,739

AVIATION MARKER Filed Feb. 13, 1931 M abtouwqa Patented Mar. 1, 1932 PATE ARTHUR M. wILnELim-u' RAN noLrmmiw YORK amn on Mariana Application filed February 13,1931. Serial no. 515,605. g

This invention re'lates'to certain new and useful improvements in markers for aviation.- During winter flying the markers which are provided along the airways across country are easily obscured by-the slightest snow, or

other matter, such as the leaves from the trees, and consequently the aviator derives no benefit from the concealed marker. This'is equally true with respect to markers at airports, and advertisements or other indicia specially designed for aviators. Further during night driving these signs and markers may be illuminated but the manner of illumination, and the construction of the signs or markers, are such that they are not distinctly and clearly discernible to the aviator.

The object of the present invention is to provide an all-weather marker which will be visible and readily discernible from the air; and further one which can not be easily obscured by snow. i

The invention further contemplates the provision of a marker which may readily be seen from the air regardless of the angle of approach, and one which may be illuminated so as to clearly and distinctly stand out as a reliable guide for the aviator during night travel.

For a clear understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description in conjunction'with the attacheddrawings wherein a Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a marker embodying the present invention. p

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View therethrough about on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view 0 the marker. I y

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butdepicting a slightly modified illuminating arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified marker of Fig. 4:. I

In proceeding in accordance with themesent invention the marker may be in the form of a direction indicating element, such as the,

arrow indicated in Fig. 4, or it may be in the form of, a sign or advertisement composedof individual letters, such as is indicated in Fig. 1. By the use of letters the name of the airport may be displayed as a guide to the aviator. So that the term markeris herein used broadly to include a sign or advertisement or other designation to be conveyed to the aviator, and in fact the inventive concept herein expressed may be utilized for other traffic designations such as road markings, wherein the present invention might be utilized. a

In accordance with this invention I provide 00 a sign having a top or upper face formed of an open mesh workto provide for the ready passage of snow, or other matter, therethrough in a manner to clear the marker and without impairing the full and complete functioning of the device. To this end each mesh opening is made sufiiciently large to enable the free passage of snow entirely through without clogging tendency.

The marker is herein depicted as compris- 1ng marginal side walls 1 which define a frame that delineates the general design or outline of the marker. The space between the marginal Walls 1 is filled by an open mesh fabrication the openings of which may be of any desired geometric design although the present disclosure illustrates the openlngs as being rectangular in design. The open mesh work is formed by a row of parallel plates 2 intersected by a transverse row ofplates '3, which plates are ofa suflicient depth to expose considerable wall surface when viewed from an airplane. In practice it is preferred to space the filler plates in the row eighteen inches or two feet apart so as to provide large open spaces 4 throughout the top'surface area of the marker, or substantially throughout such area. The large individual openings 4 are provided of such extent as to avoid the possibility of snow and ice clogging the same with the ultimate complete coverage and concealment of the marker. These large openings will present a mesh or foraminous appearance from the air which will be further accentuated by the shadows cast on and by the intersecting walls. These intersecting walls have thin or very narrowtop edges toavoid little accumulation of snow on the top edges. Es-

such as orange, which will serve to set off the marker when the sun is shining thereon, or when the same is illuminated for night usage. The Openings 4. have unobstructed discharge-from the botton face of the marker and, in order to. provide for free escape of snow and other matter from beneath the,

marker, after having passed therethrough,

and againstpiling up ultimately to clog the.

openings, themarker is elevated a substantial distance above the ground as by means of supports 5. These supports may be an,-

chored in a, concrete base 6 if desired. 7

. For night use the marker may be illuminated by diiferent light sources 7 dispersed at proper intervals to have their light rays reflected by the vertical walls 2'and 3,, and wherethe marker is of considerable breadth or area, additional lighting may be provided by a suitable arrangement of flood lights in.- dicated generally at 8. As, an alternative the illumination may be, provided. by neon tubes 9; by which the marker be well, delineated as well as having its light reflectingwalls 2 and, 3, illuminated.

- The marginal walls 1 may be provided along their lower edges with depending skirt Y portions 10 which extend inwardly beneath the marker body at, a downward inclination to serve as a means for. deflecting the wind downwardly, thereby to assist in maintaining the space beneath the marker body clear and; free from accumulated matter- This marker may be, used. not onlyat airports but also along airways to direct aviators, or it may b e mounted on the tops; of buildings andother surfaces from which the marker may be read from above. The reference in the claims to an aviation markeris therefore used in this broad sense, since the inventioncan be used equally well for, signs and advertisements having a top sur face through which the vertical tubes open for the ready passage of snow and other matter. These tubes preferably have straight vertical walls but slight variations therefrom to. increase the wall surface, when viewed from a point more nearly to the perpendicular, are comprehended herein. What is claimed is: I 1. A marker for aviation, visible from the air, comprising a body having a definite form with a top or upper surface area having large openings presenting from the air an open mesh appearance, the mesh openings being defined by walls of greater depth than the cross sectional dimensions of the individual openings to present a substantially solid wall appearance when viewed from an angle to the ground perpendicular, the said openings passing entirely through the top and bottom faces of the marker whereby falling 'matter'niay pass through and free of the marker...

2. A marker for aviation, visible from the air, comprising a body having a definite form with a top or upper surface area of open mesh, the mesh openings being defined by walls extending. downwardly through the body of the marker and defining'mesh openings in the top and bottom faces of the marker,and asource of night illumination arranged. beneath the open mesh bottom face for illuminating the walls for view through the open mesh top face from the air.

A marker comprising abody having a definite form with a top or upper surface area,

formed of open mesh, the mesh openings being defined by walls forming substantially perpendicular light reflectingsurfaces for viewing from above, and a source of illumination arranged for illuminating the light refleetingwalls, and means supporting the body for the free escape ofmatter falling through.

the meshopenings, said body having an open bottom for such escape.

l. A marker for aviation, visible from the air, comprising abody having marginal walls defining a dehnite form with a top or upper surface area formed of open mesh having mesh openings each of a cross sectional di-- mensionto freely pass wind-blown matter therethrough, said body having an open bottom for the escape of such matter, and a source of illumination carried by the marginal wall of the body and delineating the outline thereof. Y Y

. 5. A marker for aviation, visible toaviaw tors whileflying, comprising a body having;

a definite form and composed of a plurality of intersecting plates substantially perpendicular to the ground and forming an open mesh top face for the marker, the,- openings in the top face extending through the body and opening through the bottom face of the body, and means supporting the body with the bottom face spaced from off the ground whereby any matter passing through the openings of the body will have free escape fromsbeneath. the marker.

6. An aviation marker of definite form and comprising spaced side-walls and a plurality of intersecting filler-walls, arranged between the side walls, said fillerwalls. being arranged on edge and intersecting; each. other to form a' foraminous upper surface areafor, the. marker. between the side walls thereof, the openings of the. foraminous upper surface matter. v

opening through the bottom portion of said marker, and said walls being of greater depth than the cross dimension of the openin 7 An aviation marker comprising a hid having a definite form and an upper surface area perforated for the passage of windblown matter therethrough for discharge through the bottom portion of the body, means supporting the bodyabove the ground, and means arranged adjacent the lower edge of the body, above the ground, for deflecting the Wind toward the ground to clear the space beneath the body from accumulated ARTHUR M. WILHELMQ DISCLAIMER 1,847,739.A1t71,m- M. Wilhelm, Randolph, N. Y. AVIATION MARKER. Patent dated March 1, 1932. Disclaimer filed February 3, 1933, by the patentee. I disclaim the. subject matter of claims 1 and '2 of my Patent No. 1,847,739, except as they apply to an aviation marker having an external information-imparting shape.

[Ojfioz'al Gazette March '7, 1.933.] 

